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I don't think it is O'Connor's "rapid mental deterioration", I think it is pure "finger in the wind" political judging. Her judging style has never had any firm principles, conservative or liberal. It just so happens that because of her moderately conservative inclinations, her legal conclusions usually brought her to the right results on many cases. But since there were really no legal principles involved in her judicial analysis to begin with (just subjective "balancing tests" and taking things on a "case by case" basis), it is very easy for her to simply switch sides on her conclusions without ever changing her judicial philosophy. Ever since Bush v. Gore O'Connor has done close to a 180 and has been voting regularly with the four liberals on just about all of the major social issues.

I personally think she is trying to "atone" for her vote in Bush v. Gore with the liberal media (who of course have been praising her "thoughtfulness"). She is further stroking the elitist legal establishment and wants to be written about favorably by the liberal legal academics who will analyze and review her opinions for the history books. Voting to the Left for a few terms helps her mitigate the academic criticisms she will suffer for voting with the conservative majority in Bush v. Gore.

She has swung the Rehnquist Court to the left single-handedly, and needs to retire ASAP...and another reason why W. needs to be re-elected despite his disappointments on affirmative action, immigration, gay marriage, etc.

I personally think she is trying to "atone" for her vote in Bush v. Gore with the liberal media

Yes. That is a question I once posed to Congressman Billybob, but he never really answered. (He has to argue in front of these people sometimes and I'm sure he has to be a little measured in what he says here.) But I agree with your theory about the Bush/Gore vote. I maintain, however, that she has "evolved" into a scumbag at least in part due to mental deterioration.

Regardless, O'Connor is now extremely dangerous to traditional America and the Constitution. I hope she starts drooling and soiling herself on the bench, or at least peeing herself as she walks down the hall, so maybe somebody can take her aside, talk to her family, and convince them that it's time for her to hang up the robes.

Regards,
LH